Just a few weeks ago, the Discerning Leadership Team and Faculty wrapped up their residential formation programs for another year. This year, an italian-speaking cohort joined the English and Spanish groups bringing our alumni to just about 200.
As a way to end the year in gratitude and offer a space for our alumni community to connect to one another, an in-person gathering took place on November 29th, bringing together more than 20 Church leaders based in Rome. Participants came from the various cohorts of the program, from its earliest edition in 2019 to the latest in 2022.
“I want to thank you for a lovely evening of companionship, sharing and prayer. As always it touched a depth. God bless you in every way!” Alumni present at the Gathering on November 29th.
After convening around a moment of prayer and sharing, participants lit a candle, offered intentions and sang together. The lively conversations continued that evening over an aperitivo. Along with the sense of hope and promise that the Advent season brings, there was a special energy in meeting like-hearted people engaged in the same mission.
The gathering was also a chance to share the Program’s updates such as the offering of the Discerning Leadership formation to more than 100 Asian Church Leaders in Bangalore and Manila in December and January, and the pilot of the 3rd module that will be offered in April for Alumni. Also, it was an opportunity to listen the offering and the testimonies of the various accompaniment opportunities available to the Alumni in the form of coaching, spiritual direction, facilitation and webinars.